Helene strengthens to hurricane status on its way to Florida

Tropical Storm Helene intensified to hurricane strength on Wednesday morning (Sept. 25) and is expected to reach Florida’s Gulf Coast later this week.

Helene, which is expected to grow and strengthen thanks to record-warm water in the Gulf of Mexico, shifted to hurricane status while 85 miles north-northeast of Cozumel, Mexico, and 500 miles south-southwest of Tampa, Florida.

As of 11 a.m. EDT, it reached maximum sustained winds of 80 mph and was moving northwest at 10 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center, which expects it will bring “life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds and flooding rain to a large portion of Florida.”

According to CBS News, hurricane warnings are in effect between Anaclote River and Mexico Beach, Florida, as well as in parts of Mexico, while parts of Florida, including Tampa Bay, have issued storm surge warnings.

The Florida Keys may see between one and three feet of storm surge.

Hurricane watches are also in effect for Cuba and parts of Florida, and tropical storm warnings and watches remain in effect for parts of Florida, Cuba and Mexico.

A map from the National Hurricane Center shows Hurricane Helene moving north through the Florida Panhandle on Thursday night, with Tallahassee located in the center of its path.

Alabama and Georgia are expected to feel remainders of the hurricane on Friday morning, passing over Huntsville and Atlanta. The storm will then continue north through Tennessee and into the Midwest through the weekend.

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